Metro Washington Council afl-cio

Contract bargaining continues between IATSE 22 and the Kennedy Center, reports Local 22 president Chuck Clay. “The Kennedy Center is keeping true to form in trying to reset the financial clock with labor forgetting the hard work, blood, and sacrifices that got us to this point,” says Clay.

Meanwhile, sister local IATSE 868 ratified a new deal at the Kennedy Center back in July that includes wage increases of 8.25% over the 4-year contract, advances in professional development opportunities, and Local 868’s logo included in the playbills “alongside our sister locals,” the local reported. “A small win but nice to be included.”

​In a related development, union members at Washington National Opera – now part of the Kennedy Center -- ratified a new contract in September, reports the American Guild of Musical Artists. Negotiators beat back major demands for concessions in negotiations the union characterized as the “most intense since the early nineties.” The union credited its “superb negotiation committee and the support of our membership and sister unions” for the defeat of management’s concessionary demands. Highlights of the 4-year deal include a 7.5% raise over four years, maintained retirement contributions/benefits, increases in jobs and rehearsal guarantees and other improvements.